Tape-forwarding means

ABSTRACT

A tape-forwarding means for making a tape contained in a case to run at a predetermined speed in a predetermined direction during recording and/or reproducing, in which provisions are made for preventing a malfunction of tape forwarding, and for preventing the tape from being damaged or cut.

United States Patent [72] Inventor OsamuOgata [50] FieldofSearch............................................ 226/118, Suwa-shi, Japan 181,186,187;179/100.2 Z; 242/5519 A, 182

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,155,335 11/1964 Maeder 242/5519 A 3,346,161 10/1967 1ronside...... 226/118 X Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher 21 App1.No.

22 Filed May 23, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Osaka, Japan [32] Priority May 31, 1968, May 31,1968, May 31,

1 8 [33] gg AttorneyStevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 43/37666, 43/37667 and 43/37668 ABSTRACT: A tape-forwarding means for making a tape contained in a case to run at a predetermined speed in a predetermined direction during recording and/or reproducing. in which provisions are made for preventing a malfunction of tape forwarding, and for preventing the tape from being damaged or cut.

8 l l 6 2 2 s N m m m Mme W a W Rm A w m Rm m E a P C 5 T4 U M H h U 226/181, 242/55.19A [51] Int. B6511 17/20 PATENTED SEP28 IHII SHEET 1 UF 5 F IG.

PRIOR ART ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEP28I97I 3.608 805 SHEET 2 [1F 5 J V I I I, I," "I,

INVENTOR amnw 0697? ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEP28 I97! SHEET 4 BF 5 ATTOR N EYS PATENTEDSEPZMS?! 3.608n805 sum 5 BF 5 ATTORN EY5 TAPE-FORWARDING MEANS The'present invention relates to a tape-forwarding means -for making a tape contained in a case to run at a predetermined speed and in a predetermined direction during recording or reproducing.

According to the present invention, if the tape falls into disorder or is momentarily stopped at the takeup side, the tape is moved out of the case in order that the tape is prevented from being damaged or cut due to a clogging of the tape passage within the case, a provision being further made for preventing the portion of the tape which is moved out of the case from being damaged or cut. Further, a normal tape movement is reestablished at the takeup side, the portion of the tape which has been moved out of the case is again admitted into the case. Throughout the specification, the word case is used to include a cartridge containing an endless tape, a cassette having a pair of reels and a tape secured at its opposite ends to said reel, and the like. The present invention will now be described in connection with a tape player which utilizes a tape cartridge taking reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. l is a plan view showing essential parts of a conventional tape-forwarding means;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a plan and a side elevational view showing the essential part of a tape-forwarding means made in ac cordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are a perspective and a plan view respectively of the essential part of another embodiment of the present invention:

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the essential part of a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the capstan portion; and,

FIGS. 9 to 13 show further embodiments of the present invention in which FIGS. 9 and 10 are plan views showing a por tion of the tape contacting with a wall surface at the exterior of the cartridge, FIG. 11 is a plan view showing how the tape is moved out of the cartridge, FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the portion of the tape stored in the tape-storing portion, and FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the construction of the tape'storing portion. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a conventional tape player. In the drawings, the numeral 1 shows a tape cartridge in which a tape 2 is housed by winding it around a reel 10 to form an endless tape. The cartridge 1 has a pinch roller 3 rotatably mounted thereon and a stripper 4 which is disposed so as to contact with the pinch roller 3. The numeral 5 shows a capstan rotatably supported by a housing 6. The numeral 7 is a plate member for preventing the tape 2 from coiling itself round the capstan 5, 8 shows a magnetic head, and 9 shows an electrode adapted to be put into contact with an electrically conductive material carried on the tape 2 to close a circuit for energizing a solenoid, etc.

When the cartridge 1 is inserted into a tape player and the magnetic head 8 and the electrode 9 are brought into the operative position against the tape 2, the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 contact with each other with the intermediary of the tape 2. Thus, the tape 2 is forced to move under the rotating force of the capstan 5 in the direction shown by an arrow G. However, in this type of tape player, the following discrepancies have sometimes been encountered.

For example, in FIG. 1, if the movement of the tape is momentarily interrupted due to an accidental engagement between a connecting portion of the tape 2 or the electrically conductive material carried on the tape 2 and the stripper 4 as would sometimes occur at the point X on the stripper 4, the tape 2 is prevented from running in the direction shown by the arrow G. In this instance, since the tape 2 is prevented from going out of the cartridge from the portion shown at Z by means of the plate member 7, the portion of the tape 2 which has been continuously fed at a speed of, for example, 9.5 cm./sec. by the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 is instantaneously folded and accumulated in a narrow tape passage around the pinch roller 3 and the stripper 4. Thus, the tape passage is clogged by the tape 2 itself with the result that the tape 2 is prevented from moving and is damaged or sometimes cut. Further, although not so often, it has sometimes been experienced that, during a starting and transient period when the tape movement is not stable, the tape movement is disordered to cause similar trouble. Further, if a portion of the tape 2 is projecting from the cartridge 1 as a loop before the cartridge is inserted into the tape player in the direction shown by the arrow F, the portion of the tape 2 projecting from the cartridge 1 is held between the cartridge and the plate member 7 when the cartridge l is inserted to prevent the tape movement at the takeup side M. In this instance, since the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 continuously operate to feed the tape 2, the tape 2 is caused to be instantaneously bent and accumulated around the pinch roller 3 and the capstan 5, resulting in a similar trouble such as a blocking of tape movement or damaging or breakage the tape.

In FIG. 1, if the anticoiling plate member 7 were omitted, the portion of the tape 2 would be allowed to go out of the cartridge when the movement of the tape 2 was momentarily interrupted. However, the portion of the tape 2 would be guided along the surface 6a of the housing 6 and would coil itself around the capstan 5 resulting in a breakage of the tape. The plate member 7 is provided for preventing such a trouble. However, due to the existence of the plate 7, when the movement of the tape 2 is interrupted for example at the stripper 4, the portion of the tape 2 which is continuously fed by the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 is not allowed to go out of the cartridge, so that instantaneous damage or breakage of the tape is often experienced.

The present invention is aimed to eliminate the abovedescribed disadvantages of the prior constructions, and has an object to provide a tape-forwarding means comprising means applicable to a case containing a tape for allowing the tape to move out of the case when the movement of the tape is disordered, a tape-storing portion for containing the portion of the tape which is moved out of the case, and means provided above and below said storing portion for restricting the upward and downward movement of the tape.

According to the present invention, such troubles as the interruption of the tape movement, damaging or breakage of the tape, and etc., can be effectively prevented.

The present invention will now be described with respect to several embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The first of the embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. When the movement of the tape 2 is momentarily interrupted at the takeup side, the portion of the tape 2 which is continuously fed by the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 is allowed to pass out of the cartridge ll. In order that the loop R of the tape 2 formed outside the cartridge 11 is not disordered by any part of the tape player, a tape-storing portion 19 is provided at the outside of the cartridge 1. The tape-storing portion 19 comprises a sidewall 16 and a pair of limit plates I7 and I8 for limiting the vertical movement of the portion of the tape 2 which is allowed to go out of the cartridge ll. By this arrangement, when the movement of the tape 2 is momentarily interrupted at the takeup side M, the portion of the tape 2 which is continuously fed by the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 is introduced into the tape-storing portion 19 to form a loop as shown by R until normal tape movement is reestablished at the takeup side M. In a cartridge wherein an endless tape 2 is wound on a reel 10 as shown in FIG. ll, the diameter H at the supply side is smaller than that J at the takeup side, so that the linear speed of the tape at the takeup side will be slightly larger than that of the supply side or that at which the tape is fed by the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 assuming that the rotational speed of the reel 10 is substantially constant. Therefore, if normal tape movement is reestablished before the tape-storing portion 19 is saturated by the tape 2, the portion of the tape 2 which is stored in the tape-storing portion 19 will be gradually taken into the cartridge ll, so that normal operational condition is restored. Thus, even when the movement of the tape is momentarily interrupted at the takeup side M, such a malfunctioning as the complete interruption of the tape movement or damaging or breakage of the tape 2 as would commonly be experienced in a conventional tape player can be effectively avoided. Therefore, according to the present invention, damage or breakage of the tape can be completely eliminated, unless there is a serious defect in the tape or the cartridge.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the present invention in which an anticoilingplate is disposed adjacent to the capstan 5 so that the surface thereof aligns with a line B normal to the front face 1a of the cartridge and tangent to the delivery side of the capstan 5. By this arrangement, when the movement of the tape 2 is momentarily interrupted at the takeup side M, the tape 2 can be smoothly moved out of the cartridge with less resistance. Therefore, the tape 2 will not be bent and disturbed in its movement, or the portion of the tape 2 which is moved out of the cartridge 1 will not be allowed to enter the space between the capstan 5 and the housing 6, so that the interruption of the movement of the tape 2 caused by the tape 2 coiling itself round the capstan 5 and other troubles related thereto can be effectively prevented. In FIG. 5, if the anticoiling plate 20 is so arranged that its end surface is close to the capstan 5 and its surface is in alignment with a line W which is tangent to the delivery side of the capstan 5 but is not normal to the front surface 1a of the cartridge 1 and makes an angle which is less than 90 to the front surface la of the cartridge, or in other words, in the anticoiling plate 20 is disposed along a line tangent to the delivery side of the capstan 5 but is inclined clockwise from the line E normal to the front surface la of the cartridge, when the movement of the tape 2 is momentarily interrupted and the tape 2 is allowed to move out of the cartridge 1, a large resistance will be created, since the loop cannot extend along a line normal to the front surface In of the cartridge. Therefore, the tape 2 cannot move smoothly out of the cartridge 1 with the result that the tape passage is clogged by the tape itself within the cartridge to interrupt the movement of the tape or cause other troubles related thereto. The anticoiling plate 20 should not necessarily be disposed along a line E which is tangent to the delivery side of the capstan 5 and normal to the front surface 1a of the cartridge, but it may be disposed at the left side of said line E so long as the tape 2 is prevented from coiling itself round the capstan 5 without disturbing the tape 2 to move out of the cartridge 1. Further, the plate 20 may be substituted by any material other than a plate provided that the material is effective in preventing the portion of the tape 2 which is moved out of the cartridge I from coiling itself round the capstan 5. Thus, according to the present invention, even when the movement of the tape is momentarily interrupted at the takeup side, the tape can smoothly move out of the cartridge and the tape is prevented from coiling itself round the capstan, so that troubles such as damaging or breakage of the tape can be effectively prevented.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in which the anticoiling plate 20 in FIG. 5 is substituted by an anticoiling shoe 21 comprising an anticoiling surface 21a, an oil-draining surface 21b, a pin 21c and a cleaning surface 21d adapted to be brought into contact with the capstan 5. The shoe 21 is disposed to provide a contact pressure on the capstaii 5 under the action of a compression spring 22. Since the anticoiling shoe 21 is thus resiliently urged onto the capstan 5, the gap between the capstan 5 and the shoe 21 is eliminated, so that, even when the movement of the tape 2 is disordered or momentarily interrupted at the takeup side M and the tape 2 is caused to move out of the cartridge 1 in the form of a loop T, the portion of the tape 2 which is moved out of the cartridge 1 is not allowed to enter the space between the capstan 5 and the anticoiling shoe 21. Thus, the portion of the tape 2 which is moved out of the cartridge 1 is perfectly prevented from coiling itself round the capstan 5. Further, since the anticoiling shoe 21 is resiliently urged onto the capstan 5, it can remove therefrom an adhesive substance which would otherwise accumulate on the tape-driving portion of the capstan 5 as the result of an extended time of operation of the tape player. In a conventional tape player, the adhesive substance is apt to accumulate in a form of dispersed spots as shown in FIG. 7 adversely affecting on the circularity of the capstan 5. However, according to the present invention, although it may not be able to remove the adhesive substance completely, the shoe 21 can serve to level off the adhesive substance on the tape-driving surface of the capstan 5 so that perfect circularity of the capstan 5 is maintained. Thus, the wow-flutter characteristics of the capstan is not lowered. Further, even when lubricating oil is caused to drip along the capstan 5, the oil is directed to escape along the oil-draining surface 21b and cannot arrive at the tape drive portion of the capstan 5.

FIGS. 9-l3 show further embodiments of the present invention. The loop formed by the portion of the tape 2 which is moved out of the cartridge 1 has an inflection point P, as shown in FIG. 11, where the spacing of the loop is the smallest, the distance N between the front surface 1a of the cartridge 1 and the inflection point P is constant irrespective of the size of the loop such as those shown by J J and J Further, as the distance from the inflection point to the end of the loop increases, the loop of the tape 2 becomes easily deflected. Referring to FIG. 9, there is provided a wall A which is parallel with and spaced by a distance L from the front surface la of the cartridge, and a wall B which is spaced by a distance L If the relation L 6.5N L is established between the distances L and L when the movement of the tape is momentarily interrupted at the takeup side M, the tape 2 is allowed to move out of the cartridge 1 and even after the end of the loop of the tape comes to contact with said wall a, the loop can easily be deformed as shown by E, so that tape 2 can continue to move out of the cartridge 1. However, when the end of said loop comes to contact with said wall B, even if there is a wide space 0 at the right side of the loop, the loop cannot extend toward the space so that a loop such as that shown by D around the capstan 5 and the housing 6. Since the tape 2 is continuously fed even after the above condition is reached, the tape 2 is caused to be folded at the loop portion to cause troubles such as the interruption of the movement of the tape and damaging or breakage of the tape. In FIG. 10, the cartridge 1 is provided with a partition wall 27 in the place of the stripper 4 shown in FIG. 9 so as to provide separate passages 28 and 29. In a normal operation, the tape 2 is passed through the passage 28 to be taken up by the reel. If there is a wall B at the outside of the cartridge 1, when the movement of the tape is momentarily interrupted, the portion of the tape 2 fed by the cooperating capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 moves out of the cartridge 1 until the end of the loop abuts the wall B and the loop is slightly deformed as shown by U. Thereafter, the loop cannot extend toward the space c due to the high resistance to the deformation of the loop, and the portion of the tape 2 which is thereafter fed by the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3 is directed within the cartridge toward a less-resistant direction forming a further loop, the loop U at the outside of the cartridge being left as it is. The second loop is allowed to extend through the passage 29 into a tape port 30 to form a loop X therein. When, from this condition, the normal tape movement is reestablished at the takeup side M, it will be difficult when the portion of the tape 2 stored in the tape port 30 moves through the passage 29 into the normal tape passage along the passage 28 due to the formation of the partition wall 27. Therefore, a smooth tape movement will not be ensured with the result that the tape will be bent at or around the tape port 30 causing interruption of the tape movement or other troubles relating thereto. However, even if the cartridge 1 is provided with a partition wall 27, if a wall A is provided at the outside of the cartridge 1 as shown in FIG. 9, the tape 2 is allowed to continuously move out of the cartridge 1 when the movement of the tape is momentarily interrupted so that the aforementioned troubles will not occur. Thus, when a sidewall is provided in order to allow the tape 2 to go out of the cartridge l and store it at the outside of the cartridge 1 when the movement of the tape is interrupted at the takeup side, the distance from the front surface In of the cartridge 1 to the sidewall should be larger than 6.5 N in view of the deformation characteristics of the loop of the tape 2.

On the other hand, in the arrangement of FIG. 11, the tape 2 is allowed to move out of the cartridge 1 when the tape movement is momentarily interrupted at the takeup side M forming a loop such as shown by 1,, J J In this instance, the trace of the loop extends along a line normal to the front surface lla of the cartridge. If the loop extends in this way, the resistance against the movement of the tape 2 from the cartridge will be minimized. lf the arrangement is such that the loop of the tape 2 extends along a line other than said normal line, the resistance against the movement of the tape 2 from the cartridge 1 will increase, and the loop of the tape 2 cannot extend toward the space c such as the loop D as shown in F Ki. 9, or when a cartridge ll having a partition 27 is used as shown in FlG. llO, the tape 2 will enter the tape port causing interruption of tape movement or other troubles related thereto. Thus, in order to ensure that the tape 2 is moved out of the cartridge 1, a passage of minimum resistance must be provided for directing the tape 2 out of the cartridge 1.

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is intended to eliminate these disadvantages and prevent damaging or breakage of the tape. In these figures, a tape passage 23 is provided at the outside of the cartridge 1 in order to direct the tape 2 with minimum resistance toward the exterior of the cartridge when the tape movement is momentarily interrupted. A tape storing portion 24 is encircled by a sidewall 26 so that the portion of the tape 2 which is moved out of the cartridge 1 does not interfere with the parts of the tape player. The por tion 260 of the sidewall 26 to which the loop J of the tape 2 initially abuts is disposed at a distance L (L 6.5N) from the front surface in of the cartridge 1, so that the tape 2 can extend in the tape-storing portion 25 after abutting to the wall portion 260 and is stored therein forming a loop such as shown by K. Thus, such a trouble as the interruption of the tape movement of damaging or breakage of the tape caused by the tape 2 folded in the neighborhood of the capstan 5 can be effectively prevented. lf a normal tape movement is reestablished at the takeup side M before the tape-storing portion 25 is saturated by the tape 2, since the tape speed at the takeup side M is larger than that at which the tape is fed by the capstan 5 and the pinch roller 3, the portion of the tape 2 which is outside of the cartridge 1 is gradually drawn into the cartridge 1 to restore the normal condition. When the tape 2 is moved out of the cartridge ll, a subsidiary tape-storing portion 24 will not be required, however, when the portion of the tape 2 which is stored in the main tape-storing portion 25 is returned into the cartridge 1, the subsidiary tape-storing por tion 24 is required. Without the subsidiary tape-storing portion 241, a portion of the tape loop in the tape-storing portion 25 will surge into the tape passage 23 or into the inlet and exit port S of the cartridge 1., with the result that the tape movement is prevented. However if the subsidiary tape-storing portion 24 is provided adjacent to the tape passage 23 and the cartridge 1, the aforementioned surging will not occur and the interruption of the tape movement and the other troubles related thereto can be prevented. Thus, by providing at the outside of the cartridge l a tape-storing portion comprising a tape passage, a main tape-storing portion and a subsidiary tapestoring portion, and by encircling said tapestoring portion by a sidewall, the interruption of the tape movement and damaging or breakage of the tape can be prevented, and a stabilized tape movement can be obtained. Further, if a restricting means is provided at the upper and lower sides of the tapestoring portion for restricting the movement of the portion of the tape 2 outside the cartridge l, disordering of the tape 2 at the outside of the cartridge can be prevented and the movement of the tape 2 can be further stabilized.

The present invention has been described in connection with a cartridge containing an endless tape, but it should be understood that the invention can also be applicable to a cassette including a pair of reels for securing the opposite ends of a tape.

What is claimed is:

A tape-forwarding means, comprising: a case within which a tape is stored; a pinch roller within said case, the tape being wound over said roller, said roller being adapted to cooperate with a rotatable capstan of a tape player in order to forward said tape; a tape-storing portion for temporarily gathering the portion of tape overfed by said roller and capstan whenever there is an interruption or slowdown in said case relative to the normal winding of the tape as it is forwarded by said roller and capstan, said storing portion comprising an opening in said case adjacent to said roller and capstan for permitting the overfed tape portion to loop outwardly of said case through said opening, a tape passageway extending normal to the wall of said case through which extends said opening, the centerline of said opening extending through said passageway, a main tape storage compartment which is spaced from said case and said capstan, an auxiliary tape storage compartment which is adjacent to said passageway and to said case, and means to restrict the movement of said tape portion exteriorly of said case.

2. The tape-forwarding means of claim 11, said storing portion including a wall extending substantially parallel to the wall of said case through which said opening extends, the distance between said walls being at least 6.5 N wherein N is the distance between said case wall and the inflection point of the tape loop.

3. A tape-forwarding means, comprising: a case within which a tape is stored, a pinch roller within said case, the tape being wound over said roller, said roller being adapted to cooperate with a rotatable capstan of a tape player in order to forward said tape, a tape-storing portion for temporarily gathering the portion of tape overfed by said roller and capstan whenever there is an interruption of slowdown in said case relative to the normal winding of the tape as it is forwarded by said roller and capstan, said storing portion comprising an opening in said case adjacent to said roller and capstan for permitting the overfed tape portion to loop outwardly of said case through said opening, and said storing portion including means to restrict the movement of said tape portion exteriorly of said case, further including a tapeanticoiling means for preventing coiling of the tape around said capstan, said anticoiling means comprising a member substantially in contact with said capstan and having a surface thereof disposed along a line substantially normal to the wall of said case through which said opening extends at the delivery side of said capstan.

4. The forwarding means of claim 12, including means to resiliently urge said anticoiling member against said capstan. 

1. A tape-forwarding means, comprising: a case within which a tape is stored; a pinch roller within said case, the tape being wound over said roller, said roller being adapted to cooperate with a rotatable capstan of a tape player in order to forward said tape; a tape-storing portion for temporarily gathering the portion of tape overfed by said roller and capstan whenever there is an interruption or slowdown in said case relative to the normal winding of the tape as it is forwarded by said roller and capstan, said storing portion comprising an opening in said case adjacent to said roller and capstan for permitting the overfed tape portion to loop outwardly of said case through said opening, a tape passageway extending normal to the wall of said case through which extends said opening, the centerline of said opening extending through said passageway, a main tape stOrage compartment which is spaced from said case and said capstan, an auxiliary tape storage compartment which is adjacent to said passageway and to said case, and means to restrict the movement of said tape portion exteriorly of said case.
 2. The tape-forwarding means of claim 11, said storing portion including a wall extending substantially parallel to the wall of said case through which said opening extends, the distance between said walls being at least 6.5 N wherein N is the distance between said case wall and the inflection point of the tape loop.
 3. A tape-forwarding means, comprising: a case within which a tape is stored, a pinch roller within said case, the tape being wound over said roller, said roller being adapted to cooperate with a rotatable capstan of a tape player in order to forward said tape, a tape-storing portion for temporarily gathering the portion of tape overfed by said roller and capstan whenever there is an interruption or slowdown in said case relative to the normal winding of the tape as it is forwarded by said roller and capstan, said storing portion comprising an opening in said case adjacent to said roller and capstan for permitting the overfed tape portion to loop outwardly of said case through said opening, and said storing portion including means to restrict the movement of said tape portion exteriorly of said case, further including a tape-anticoiling means for preventing coiling of the tape around said capstan, said anticoiling means comprising a member substantially in contact with said capstan and having a surface thereof disposed along a line substantially normal to the wall of said case through which said opening extends at the delivery side of said capstan.
 4. The forwarding means of claim 12, including means to resiliently urge said anticoiling member against said capstan. 